Straw conveyer for grain combines



Dec. 15, 1953 D. P. KEITH STRAW CONVEYER FOR GRAIN COMBINES Filed Nov. 20, 1950 m K P n U D Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,662,529 STRAW CONVEYER FOR GRAIN COMBINES Dan P. Keith, Lubbock, Tex. Application November 20, 1950, Serial No. 196,677

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in straw conveyors for grain combines and more particularly to a type of conveyor commonly known as a straw walker.

The instant application is a continuation' inpart of my ccpending application, Serial No. 153,211, filed March 30, 1950.

An important object of the invention is to provide a straw walker composed of a group of toothed bars having opposite oscillating movement whereby to progressively feed the straw in the combine to the delivery end thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a straw walker which eliminates clogging of the straw which causes congestion in the flow of the straw and impedes progress of the machine and wherein the straw is constantly fed through the machine and discharged therefrom.

Another object is to improve the construction of the straw walker by providing cleats on the upper surface of the deflector thereof to feed the straw more consistently and reduce the tendency of the straw to pack on the straw walker.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character or" simple and practical construction, which is eficient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and other wise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a combine with parts broken away and shown in section to show the group of straw walkers mounted in position therein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the straw walkers Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view showing one of the crank shafts for oppositely oscillating the straw walkers; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the straw feeding cleats.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates one of the straw walkers which is of channel shaped construction and formed at its upper side edges with parallel rows of teeth 5. The teeth are formed with a perpendicular edge 1 and an inclined edge 8.

An inverted V-shaped grain deflector s is positioned longitudinally in the channel shaped member 5 from end to end thereof and with its side edges welded or otherwise suitably secured to the inner sides of the channel shaped member at the base of the teeth 6.

Cleats 9a are welded or otherwise suitably secured on the upper sloping surfaces of deflector 9 in a transverse staggered relation with respect to each other and are formed at their inner ends, at the apex of the deflector, with upstanding lugs so.

A substantially U-shaped bracket it is secured to the underside of channel shaped member 5 adQacent each end thereof and to the underside of which bearing blocks 5 l are secured, each block being constructed of an upper block i2 and a lower block is secured to each other by bolts or studs It and forming a transverse bore it; in the blocks at their confronting faces.

A group of the straw walkers 5 are mounted in a grain combine it by means of front and rear crank shafts ii and I8 journaled in the sides of the combine and driven by a pulley Ll at one end of shaft ll by the belt pulley drive 26 of the combine. The bearing blocks H and the front and rear ends of the straw walkers 5 are secured to the cranks 2! of the front and rear crank shafts and the cranks are staggered with respect to each other to oppositely oscillate the group of straw walkers.

In the operation of the device the straw walkers 5 are mounted in position on the crank shafts ll and IS with the inclined edges 8 of the teeth 5 positioned forwardly, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, and as the crank shafts I! and it r0- tate the cranks 2| alternately move the straw Walkers 5 forwardly and rearwardiy in an oscillating movement to feed the straw toward the rear end of the combine. Grain falling in the straw walkers is deflected from the sides thereof between the teeth 6 by the deflector t.

The cleats do with their upstanding lugs ill) catch and feed the straw uniformly to prevent any tendency of the straw to bunch or pack on the straw walker.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A straw walker for grain combines comprising a channel member mounted longitudinally in the combine for oscillating movement with longitudinal side edges uppermost and formed therein with longitudinally spaced teeth, an imperforate grain deflecting member of inverted V-shape in crosssection extending longitudinally in said channel member and sloping downwardly oppositely from its longitudinal center to the base of the teeth in said side edges to deflect grain to the space between said teeth for discharge out of said channel member, and cross cleats on said deflecting member staggered longitudinally thereof on 0p- 4 posite sides of the longitudinal center of the deflecting member and terminating at said center in upstanding end lugs, said cleats and lugs being adapted to catch and walk the straw uniformly under oscillating movement of said channel member.

DAN P. KEITH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 242,349 McNaught May 31, 1881 274,395 Schneider Mar. 20, 1883 810,625 Crane Jan. 23, 1906 1,617,246 Freeman Feb. 8, 1927 1,864,005 Taylor June 21, 1932 

